chlorthalidone

What is the most important information I should know about chlorthalidone?

What is chlorthalidone?

Chlorthalidone is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.

Chlorthalidone treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, or kidney disorders, or edema caused by taking steroids or estrogen.

Chlorthalidone is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Chlorthalidone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking chlorthalidone?

• you are unable to urinate; or
• you are allergic to sulfa drugs.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease;
• heart failure;
• gout;
• high cholesterol or triglycerides;
• diabetes; or
• if you are on a low-salt diet.

Do not start or stop taking chlorthalidone during pregnancy without your doctor's advice. Although chlorthalidone may cause side effects in a newborn, having high blood pressure during pregnancy can cause complications such as diabetes or eclampsia (dangerously high blood pressure that can lead to medical problems in both mother and baby). The benefit of treating hypertension may outweigh any risks to the baby.

How should I take chlorthalidone?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your blood and urine may both be tested if you have been vomiting or are dehydrated.

This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using chlorthalidone.

If you need surgery, tell your surgeon you currently use this medicine.

If you have high blood pressure, keep using this medicine even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Overdose symptoms may include nausea, weakness, dizziness, drowsiness, extreme thirst, muscle pain, or rapid heartbeats.

What should I avoid while taking chlorthalidone?

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise, in hot weather, or by not drinking enough fluids. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.

What are the possible side effects of chlorthalidone?

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• low sodium --headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady;
• low potassium --leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling;
• low magnesium --dizziness, irregular heartbeats, feeling jittery, muscle cramps, muscle spasms, cough or choking feeling; or
• kidney problems --little or no urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath.

Common side effects may include:

• low blood pressure (feeling light-headed);
• kidney problems;
• dizziness; or
• an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium, sodium, or magnesium in your blood).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect chlorthalidone?

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• other blood pressure medications;
• lithium;
• digoxin, digitalis;
• insulin or oral diabetes medicine; or
• steroid medicine.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect chlorthalidone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about chlorthalidone.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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